FOUR of the approximately 50 elderly persons who attended the first day of the health fair organised by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, were referred to Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) for immediate medical attention.

Officers of the Human Services Ministry attend to the needs of senior citizens at the health fair.

Assistant Chief Probation Officer, Mr. Deendayal Singh told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that, after the quartet was examined by medical personnel, it was discovered that they did not have a check-up for a long time.

He said they suffered mostly from diabetes and the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) team discovered numbness in their feet.

According to him, some of the senior citizens were being medically checked for the first time and were unaware of the ailments from which they are suffering.

That caused him to emphasise the importance of relatives and friends regularly taking their elderly to a medical practitioner for examination.

“Some elderly don’t ever go to the centres for check-ups either because of neglect or not having anybody who is interested enough to take them. Communities are encouraged to be pro-active in terms of ensuring this,” Singh said.

He reiterated that it is imperative for senior citizens to exercise often and eat proper diets so as to minimise the occurrence of sickness that tends to go with aging.

The two-day outreach, started Tuesday, was part of the Ministry programme to honour the elderly throughout this month at its Cornhill Street, Georgetown location.

Many of the beneficiaries lauded the Ministry initiative which made available services free of cost, such as blood pressure and blood sugar testing, dental examinations, HIV/AIDS and cholesterol tests and body mass index (BMI) testing.

A 68-year-old resident of South Cummingsburg, Mr. Terrence Jackson remarked that it was a very good gesture.

“I did blood pressure and other tests. Normally, it takes a lot of time to get these things done at Georgetown Hospital where it is tough for people of age,” he stated.

Jackson said the cost for such services is, sometimes, exorbitant and mentioned that he pays $500 for a blood test and, at some drug stores, the reading is inaccurate.

In addition to the fair, many other activities have been planned for the benefit of the elderly.

Inmates of The Palms, which falls under the Human Services Ministry, will be spending a day at Splashmins Resort on October 23.

That and other programmes will facilitate group discussions and allow for senior citizens to socialise with their peers.

Singh said the schedule for the month differs from region to region but the main focus is on the health and well-being of those advanced in years.

He said the Ministry is also focusing on other aspects of dealing with the elderly, such as the level of care that they receive in their households.